Improvement in clothes-line stretchers



'W. T. KEEPER. Clothes-Line Stretcher.

No. 209,814. Patented Nov.12, 1878.

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N-FETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n. C

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM T. KEEFER, OF NEWOASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.-

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-LINE STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,814, dated November 12, 1878 application filed August 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. KEEPER, of Newcastle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Clothes-Line Stretcher, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and convenient device for stretching and holding clothes-lines, and for other similar purposes.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top view of fourcorner posts and one side post for a clothes-line, which is supported and stretched by the use of my present invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the stretcher. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the corner hook.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

One end of the clothes-line A is fastened to a hook driven into the side of the starting post. The other end is secured to the stretcher. At the corner posts the line is supported upon right-angular hooks a, driven into the inner corners of said posts, and at the side posts (when the distance requires it) the line is supported by being inserted in the coils of the spiral hook I).

The last or fastening post B is provided with a vertical guide-pulley, O, to lead the rope A to the stretcher, to which it is attached by forming a loop on the end of the rope, and running it over the bent handle of the lever D until it is stopped from sliding farther down the lever D by the hook or pin 01.

The stretching-lever D is pivoted and fulcrumed at c to a lug formed upon the toothed base-plate E, and is provided with a pawl, F, which is pivoted to the lever atf, to lock with its point in the teeth of the rack e, and thus keep the line A taut. I

The base-plate E is secured to staples G in the post B by being provided with end projections, e, (the lower of which is longer than the upper,) which are inserted in the staples G. The lower end is first inserted and the plate E slid down in position to enter the upper staple with its upper end. The plate is then raised to enter also the upper staple, and secured in position by a pin or set-screw, H, inserted through the lower staple, G, and projection e, as seen in Fig. 2. By bearing down upon the handle of the lever D the line A may be stretched to any degree desired and fast 'ened by the pawl F and rack e. c

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the toothed base-plate E, securable by staples G and pin or set-screw H to the line-post B, with the hooked lever D, pivoted to the lug c on the base-plate E, and provided with the pivoted pawl F, working in the rack e, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM T. KEEFER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT MOBURNEY, R. M. ALLEN. 

